Process for forming brushes



Jane 18, 1946. A, L, LEFEBVRE r 2,402,333

PROCESS FOR FORMING BRUSHES Filed Oct. 14, 1943 BY A T T NEV.

Patented June 18, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESS FOR FORMING BRUSHES Application October 14, 1943, Serial No. 506,170

2 Claims.

1 My invention relates to,a processior forming brushes in which the bristles are held in a core composed of three or more wires twisted together to comprise a novel formation of twisted structure, and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a simple process for assembling the core wires and the bristles for the twisting operation.

My improved process in the practice of which the objects herein contemplated are embodied is disclosed in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is an isometricview illustrating the arrangement of the wires and brush material in a preliminary step in the process.

Figure 2 is a, similar view illustrating an advanced step in the process.

Figure 3 is a view in cross section showing the relative position and arrangement of the wires and brush material after the operation disclosed in Fig. 2. I

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation showing the operation of the combs in displacing the brush material for the final twisting operation.

Figure 5 is a side view of a portion of a brush created by this improved process.

Figure 6 illustrates a hand tool as one means for displacing the bristles as an alternative to the means shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 7 is an end view of the brush shown in Figure 5 This invention is not limited to the use of bristles of any particular type, but contemplates the use of bristles of any of the various materials now employed inthe making of any of the many types of brushes in common use, and the term bristles" as employed herein will be understood to include any of the various kinds so used. The

process herein disclosed is particularly applicable to the use of bristles composed of wire and the drawing is illustrative in particular of brushes composed of this type of bristles. 5

In efiecting my improved process a layer ill of bristles, said layer being of a length substantially that of the twisted brush to be formed in generally round shape, is arranged with two wires il-l 2 that may be termedcore wires on opposite sides thereof extending along the center of the layer and midway between the ends of the bristles, these two wires extending beyond the opposite ends of the layers sufliciently to enablethem to be grasped by chucks and twisted by the operation thereof.

This layer of bristles is then separated into two parts on each side of the wires "-12. thereby producing the portions i3l4l5l6. The

members of each portion of bristles on each side of the wires ll-l2 are disposed at an angle to adjacent portions lying on opposite sides thereof, 5 thereby forming throats l'I-lll between the members of portions of bristles on each side of the wires.

When thus arranged a second set of core wires comprising wires I9-2ll is placed in the throats ll-l8 as shown in Fig. 3 and the ends of the four wires are then secured in chucks 2l22 either or both of which-may be rotated to twist the wiresthus positioned and thereby produce a brush 23 as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

or portions hereinbefore described a pair of combs 24-25 may be employed, these combs being of a length substantially that of the layer of bristles l0. Each of the combs is formed with a set of fiat'teeth 26, all of the teeth in each set being preferably of the same width and separated to produce spaces 21 substantially of the same width as that-of the teeth. To separate the layer of bristles two combs are positioned upon opposite g5 sides of thelayer on one side of the core wires with the ends of the combs substantially even with each other and with the ends of the bristle layer, the ends of the teeth in each comb being placed opposite the spaces in the other comb. The two combs are then moved together, the teeth on each comb passing into the spaces between the teeth of the other comb and carrying with it a portion of bristles substantially the width of the spaces between the teeth. As the portions of bristles are displaced by the combs as described, the opposite ends of each portion from the part thus pressed downward or upward are, owing to some stiffness inherent in the bristles, displaced in the opposite direction, that is, upward or downward, the displacement of the portions l3 resulting in creating the parts l5 and the displacement of the portions l4 creating the parts i6, thereby disposing the bristles in the positions shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing and in position to receive 45 the wires I9-20 hereinbefore explained.

In the operation of arranging the bristle layer the wires "-42 are secured at one end within one of the chucks 2| or 22, and the opposite end of the lower wire I l is secured in the other chuck. 50/ The free end of the wire I2 is raised and a bundle of bristles is placed between the two wires, and the free end of the wire II is now secured in a chuck. The tie or cord securing the bundle of bristles is removed and the bristles are then man- 65 ually evenly spread and arranged in the condition In disposing the bristles in the form of parts l1l8 formed by the angularly arranged bristle portions, the wire I9 being preferably threaded into the throat behind the combs 24-25, or said wire may be placed'in front of said combs as shown in Fig. 2 and as the combs are opened apart the rod is may be pushed toward the center and into the throat ll. All of the core wires ll--l2l9-20 being new secured in the chucks II-22 one of the chucks is rotated with the result that a brush round in form and dense as to its surface is produced, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

As an alternative means in separating the layer into portions orparts a hand tool as shown in Fig. G rhay be employed, this tool 32 comprising an instrument in the form of tongs with handles 33 rotatably connected by a pivot 34, the handles being closed together after the manner of a tongs structure to close jaws 35 together. The jaws 35 at their ends are provided with combs 2425 secured to the jaws in any suitable manner. Upon closing the handles the combs are operated to cause the teeth to intermesh as above described with respect to the combs 24-45, as shown in Figs, 1 and 2, thereby creating the bristle portions or parts hereinbefore set out,

While the process hereinabove described sets out the separation of a single layer of strands or bristles comprising the brush material separated into two portions or parts on opposite sides of the core wires, I contemplate that this process need not be so limited and need not be confined to the number of parts herein shown and described, but that such number of parts may be varied to such extent as may be desired. It is similarly contemplated that the portions or parts may be varied as to the number of bristles therein to such extent as may be desired.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out within the scope of theof the wires, placing wires in the throats formed by said angular arrangement, and then twisting the several wires together to secure the strands in place.

A process for forming a brush comprising a core of wires twisted together to secure brush strands therein, said process including placing a single layer of brush strands between a set of wires comprising two wires, separating the layer on opposite sides of the wires into a plurality of portions by forcing the members of each of said portions on each side of the wires alternately in opposite directions to dispose them in substantially even angular arrangement, placing a second wire in each of the rows of throats formed by said angular arrangement, and then twisting the several wires together to secure the strands in place.

ALFRED L. LE FEBVRE. 

